Drawn to Redemption by the grace in His eyes

I ran this morning. Two and a half miles in 29 minutes.

I remember the day I started walking...it was the day I met Sam. She walked into my room and treated me like I wasn't broken. She told me I was going to stand up and take a few steps. Up to that point I hadn't even sat up in bed, I thought she was crazy. Sure enough I stood up on my legs clinging to what muscle was left and took a few steps. It was only a few feet and it took several minutes. It took her and a nurse to hold me upright but most of my weight was on my wasting frame. I was still in the ICU. Still not sure if I was really going to make it out of the hospital. To be frank I still didn't know how long I would live. I knew each day was a battle that could be lost.

This morning before I head off to class I'm sitting here with this song playing "Oh how he loves us" performed by David Crowder Band. I've heard it in church before. It's main line is 'Oh, how he loves us, oh.' That keeps sinking in deeper. If someone asked me "how much does he love you?" I could respond with how much of "my" life he has given back. I could talk about how many times my life was preserved in his hands. I think, though, that the real measure of how much He loves me can only be expressed in suffering and affliction. The cross to be specific. His suffering and affliction, not mine. His sacrifice not my blessing. For He paid that price just so I could have the freedom to chose Him! It wasn't some sure bet or something. Not some perfect act of love that would surely win my heart. It most certainly should but so many times I take my chains over His hand.

How do I respond to this love?

"I will not boast in any thing

No gifts, no power, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection."

...won't I?

"And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand"

today I hope i can say at the end that i stood with Christ in His victory. whatever that is in truth.